All square in Slane versus Amateurs clash

Moneyslane U16s 1

MONEYSLANE U16s travelled to Dromore last weekend to play their opening league game of the season in the Mid-Ulster Youth league.

Slane were under pressure in first five minutes of the game but Nathan Martin was solid in goals and held on to two well hit shots from distance.

Philip Galloway was solid in front of anchor man, Ryan Shilliday who was using his pace to good effect. Slane debutant Jordan Clydesdale was slotted into left back and he didn’t look out of place. He picked out Ervine Boyd up the left hand side of the pitch, he dinked past his marker and fired in the cross to Dickson at the back post who had his shot well saved by the home keeper.

Twenty minutes in and the home side almost opened the scoring when a corner was swung into the Slane six yard box and it was headed off the post.

Two minutes before the break Ethan Scott found Dickson who hit just wide.

Slane came out for the second half stronger and more determined to push the home side back into their own half and it worked to good effect.

Andrew Boyce at right back played the ball to Joshua Porter who found Ryan Bready wide on the right and he squared to Dickson who dinked round two tackles. From 30 yards out he unleashed an unstoppable shot that sailed into the top corner of the net past the outreached keeper.

The home side were not lying down and were causing all sorts of problems for Slane in midfield. Mark Maginess was working his socks off tracking back to put in some hefty challenges. Boyd and Dickson were combining well together up front and Scott and Porter were strong in midfield.

Twice young Clydesdale cleared off the line and home side were stepping up a gear. Martin was outstanding in goals and pulled of three excellent saves to keep Slane in front but with 10 minutes to go he came off his line to collect a long high looping ball that took a deflection of Shilliday out stretched leg and the ball went into the back of the Slane net for the equaliser.

Both teams went for the jugular in the last 10 minutes and tried to exploit each other’s defence but both back lines were strong and solid.

David Kinley played the ball wide to Bready who crossed to Dickson and he raced in and his shot bounced back of the post, much the annoyance of the Slane players and support.

Best on the day for Slane was Galloway at the back but man of the match went to the much improving shot stopper for Slane, Nathan Martin.

Manager Leonard Blakely was well pleased with the effort from all the lads and especially young Jordan Clydesdale who was solid at left back.